Game apparatus



Aug. 15, 1939. A. P. MASTERS GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan.' 2l, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIII/...Illl

A. P. MASTERS 2,169,365

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2l, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n ff i M21 ffINVENTOR im /Zrf/ufr fern vai/llasers MZM@ ATToRNEYs Patented Aug. 15,1939 UNlTEs STATES PATENT OFFIfCE GAME APPARATUS Application January 21,1939,

In New Zealand December 14,

10 Claims.

This is a continuation-in-part application oi above inventors UnitedStates application, Serial No. 114,477, led December Ei, i936.

The present invention relates to game apparatus, and provides improvedapparatus for enabling the equivalent ol" a game of golf to be played inrestricted spaces without restraint as regards the power put intostrokes, provision being made for indicating or recordingr the powervalue of the strokes imparted to a ball, and also for putting.

. The main object oi my invention to provide game apparatus or thecharacter mentioned which will make it possible to simulate the playingoi complete games oi golf, etc., by including means for indicating thescore attained by a player.

Another object is to provide such a game with indicating means whichwill account good strokes and bad by making it possible to subtract poorstrokes from a score which represents one or more proper strokes orplays.

A further advantage is to have indicating means of such character as teallow more than one player to use the game and in fact, allow twoplayers to play against each other.

Further objects the other advantages of the invention will appear morefully hereinafter as this specification pursues.

The improved apparatus provided by the invention, comprises a base; acaptive ball adapted to travel along the latter; a tee from which saidball is struck and a trapping screen or curtain at opposite ends ci saidbase, and between which ends said ball travels, and particularly meansactuated as a result oi the ball travelling from the tee, for scoreindicating or recording the power value of the stroke imparted to theball.

In order to introduce a competitive element into a game played on theapparatus, separate score indicating or recording means, each capable ofuse without affecting the other, are provided, also in order that theshall be so attractive and realistic to invite use, the score indicatingor recording moans are marked or gotten up to represent fairways andholes oi varying lengths, to represent a iuil course.

in the accompanying drawings in conjunction with which the inventionwill be more particularly described:

Figure l is a plan view and Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view cithe improved apparatus, taken on line li-I in Figure 1,

Serial No. 252,058

Figure 3 a part plan view enlarged of the indicating or recording meansemployed,

Figure 4 an elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 a part perspective View showing' the 5 trapping screen orcurtain,

Figure 6 a cross sectional view of the indicating or recording meansillustrating a modification.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, 10 the apparatus comprises amore or less conventional base i, o1 any suitable material and size, inor on which is secured so as to extend lengthways oi the base, a wire orrod 2, having slidably secured thereto a flexible connection 3 oi a cap-15 tive ball Li, so that the latter although always remaining secured tothe base I, is ree to travei lengthways thereof.

The wire or rod 2 can if desired, be accommodated in a recess or slot 5in or on the base i. 20

At one end of the base l, there is provided spring or resilient tee i3in line with the wire or rod 2, while at the other end oi the base i andalso in line with the wire or rod 2, a screen or curtain 'l of flexiblematerial, such as canvas or the like, 25 is provided for trapping theball i following the latter being struck from the tee E, by means of agolf club used in the ordinary manner of play.

The screen 'i is mounted between springs formed from wire of suitablegauge, and preier- 3Q ably of the form comprising a pair oi legs joinedto each other at their upper ends.

The springs 8 are mounted vertically one at each side of the base l andopposite each other, one leg of each spring being preferably longer 35than the other leg for pivoting to the base i at 8a, the other legsbeing leit ree.

The screen 'i has upper and lower cross rods 9, lil respectively, thelower cross rod l@ being secured to the lower ends of the free legs ofthe 4U springs 8, while the upper rod li is attached at its ends to thefree legs of the springs t so as to be slidable up and down saine.

in securing the springs d to the base l, they are set so as to tend topull away from each 45 other, so that when the upper or sliding rod iiof the screen 'l is raised on the free legs of the springs 8, thetension. or pull exerted on said rod 9 keeps the latter in the raisedposition,

By pivoting the springs 8 to the base i, they 50 together with thescreen l', can be folded down on the base for package, stowage ortransport purposes, stays or arms Il extending from the pivoted legs ofsaid springs 3 being provided to engage catches I la on the base i whenthe springs 55 8 are raised and so retain the latter in the correctposition when the apparatus is being used.

The wire or rod 2 to which the captive ball 4 is slidabiy attached, isconnected at one end to the lower cross rod IG, secured to the lowerends of the iree legs of the springs 8, used for supporting the screenor curtain i, a builer or buiTers I2 of rubber or other suitablematerial being placed on said wire or rod 2 adjacent the said rod I S,and upon the captive ball 4 being struck from the tee 6, the impact ofthe ball 4 with the screen or curtain '1, causes the rod or wire 2 to bejerked forward and the full value of the stroke made by the playerplaying the ball 4, to be transmitted via said wire or rod 2, to theindicating or recording means, as will be described, the buier orbuilers I2, acting as a check during rebound of the rod or wire 2,against the base I.

The wire or rod 2 passes below a retainer I3 located in iront of theresilient tee 6, and is bent upwards and then. downwards to provide anupward kink as at 2a prior to reaching the lower cross rod IG of thescreen or curtain '1, the end ci the base I being grooved or recessed atIa to accommodate the end of the wire or rod 2 and the buiier or buffersI2 thereon.

At the end of the base I at which the tee 6 is located, the wire or rod2 passes below a cover plate I5 and said tee 8, and is provided with .asliding extension I 5 having its free end formed or provided with a loopI1, adapted to be engaged by an arm I8 on a rod i9 which extends acrossthe base below the tee B, said rod I9 having its ends iournalled inbearings on the base I, as, for example, by being extended into thesides of the latter, adjacent which further arms 2D are provided on thecross rod I9.

The tee 6 can comprise a piece of nbre board or other suitable materialattached at one end to the base I so as to normally extend upwardstherefrom at its free end in a direction facing towards the screen orcurtain l, said tee 6 being provided at its highest point with a seat 6afor the captive ball 4, and also containingT an opening 2I to giveaccess to the interengaging loop II and arm IG situated below it.

An important feature is the connection of the captive ball 4 to thelongitudinal wire or rod 2 in advance oi the ball 4 when the latter isto be struck, and in order to ensure this condition always being presentwhen required, the ring 3a of the flexible connection 3 between the wireor rod 2 and the ball 4, is placed on said wire or rod 2 between theretainer I 3 and the screen or curtain "I, so that said ring 3o, and,the flexible connection are always in advance of the ball 4 when thelatter is in position on the tee 6 for being struck in play, thisadvanced position .of the iiexible connection 3 and the kinking of thewire or rod 2, as at 2d, having the effect of miniinizing wear` and tearon the ball 4 and the flexible connection 3 and associated parts.

The means for indicating or recording strokes and for indicating greensare provided at each side of the base I adjacent the longitudinal edgesthereof, and mainly comprise endless cords 22 which pass around pulleys23. while said cords 22 have representations 2li in miniature of golfballs attached thereto, the portions of the sides of the base I overwhich the representations 24 travel, bein.;- at the same time marked torepresont numbered greens and also being graduated or calibrated inyards .or as desired.

The pulleys 23 of the indicating or recording means, located at the endof the base I at which the tee 6 is located, have secured on theirspindles arms 25, preferably balanced or weighted and adapted to revolvethrough openings or slots 2B in the sides of the base I, said arms beingcapable of being set in front of the arms 20 at the ends of the crossrod I9 which passes below the tee 5, so that with the arm I8 at thecentre of said cross rod I9 engaged with the loop Il connected to thewire or rod 2, movement of the latter endways caused by the captive ball4 being struck from the tee and hitting the screen 0r curtain "I,results in operation of whichever indieating or recording means is beingused, and simultaneous indication or recording of the value of thestroke made.

Also in the base i are located holes 2T into which free balls can beputted from marked putting points or positions indicated preferably byshallow depressions 28 in the base I.

A player places the captive ball 4 on the tee 6 and drives it towardsthe screen or curtain 'I, which. on being struck by the ball 4, isbulged outwards and draws down the upper cross rod 9, causing the ball 4to be trapped at the same time operating the indicating or recordingmeans as aforesaid, and causing the endless cord 22 of the indicating orrecording means being used t0 travel so that the indicator representedby the ball 24 in miniature on the cord 22, moves along the markedportion or side of the base I, a distance relative to the strength orforce of the stroke, the player making sufcient strokes to take the ballindicator 24 to a space representing a green, following which the holeis finished by putting a free ball into one of the holes 2'I in the baseI before referred to.

Provision is made on the indicating or recording means for any desirednumber of greens, all the putting in respect of each of which is donewith a free ball on the base I.

The endless cords 2! to which the ball indicators 24 are attached, canrun in grooves 30a in the edges of strips 3f! on the sides of the baseI, so as to be concealed or be partly concealed, the portions of thebase i over which the ball indicators 24 travel being marked withmeasurements or/and other markings and ornamentation to representgreens, holes, bunkers, rough and other features appropriate to the gameof golf.

The lower edge of the screen or curtain I can be cut away as at la, andthe wire or rod 2 can be connected to the lower rod Il] of said screenor curtain 'i so as to slide therealong, with the result' that pullingor slicing the ball 4 is indicated and the power value of the stroke isalso reduced accordingly.

An indicator 29 slidable along the marked portions of the indicating orrecordingr means is provided and is capable of being set to show whichhole is being played to.

In order to provide for reverse or backward travel of the ballindicators 24, such as when the latter over-run spaces representinggreens on the marked portions of the base i. slotted sliding plate: 13are tted one to each side of the base I, adjacent the rotary arm 25.said plates 33 having lugs or projections 3I, 32 extending therefrom.

The lugs 3l, 32 of a plate 33, are spaced so that when the plate is slidforward or towards the trapping screen or curtain lug 32 supports theadjacent arm 2l? on the rod I9 in a rearwardly inclined position behindthe arm 25, when the lattei` is set for use at right angles to the edgeor side of the base I, with the result that upon a stroke being made bystriking the ball 4 from the tee 6 into the curtain or screen l, the arm20 strikes the back of the arm 25 and causes the ball indicator 24 totravel forward, which is in the direction indicated by the arrow.

To obtain reverse travel of the ball indicator 24 when it is necessaryto cause the same to return to a space representing a green, the plate33 is slid in a direction from the screen or curtain l, to bring lug 3|into a position in which it will support the arm in a forwardly inclinedposition in front of the arm 25.

In this position of the arm 20, the centre arm I8 of the rod i9, alsoinclines` forward or towards the screen or curtain 1, and upon thelatter being struck by the ball 4 driven from the tee 6, the loop I1 ispulled forward and jumps over the arm I8 and upon said loop Il movingbackwards due to the rebound of the screen or curtain l, it strikes thearm I8 backwards so that arm 2U also moves backwards and causes arm toturn in the direction necessary to make the ball indicator 24 travel inthe reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a game apparatus, indicating means for cui-'nulatively indicatingthe various successive drives imparted to a ball adapted to be projectedtoward a screen, comprising a movably supported rod-like member having ascreen connected to one end thereof said rod-like member beinglongitudinally movable in response to impacts of the ball with saidscreen, a cross rod connected transversely of the rod-like member to theother end of the latter member, means actuated by the rodlike memberduring longitudinal movement of the same and effective to cause rotationof said cross rod, an endless belt mounted on a pair ef pulleys andhaving an indicator, and means connecting said cross rod and endlessbelt in order to impart movement thereto by rotation of the cross rodcaused by longitudinal movement of the rod-like member as a result ofimpact of the ball with the screen.

2. In a game apparatus, indicating means for cumulatively indicating thesuccessive drives imparted to a ball adapted to be projected toward ascreen, comprising a movably supported rodlike member having a screenconnected to one end thereof, said rod-like member being longitudinallymovable in response to impacts of the ball with said screen, a cross rodconnected transversely of the rod-like member to the other end of thelatter member, means actuated by the rodlike member during longitudinalmovement of the same and effective to cause rotation of said cross rod,a pair of spaced pulleys, an endless belt mounted on said pulleys havingan indicator, and adapted to travel on said pulleys, and an arm disposedon said cross rod adapted to engage the arm upon said pulley in order torotate the latter and thereby cause movement of the belt upon rotationof the cross rod due to longitudinal movement of the rod-like memberresulting from impact of the ball with the screen.

3. indicating means for a game apparatus according to claim l, whereinthe rod-like member is connected at one end thereof to the screen bybeing slidably secured thereto.

4. Indicating means for a game apparatus according to claim 2, includingmeans for reversing the direction of rotation of the pulleys and therebyreversing direction of movement of the endless belt when the arm on theone pulley is engaged by the arm on the cross rod.

5. Indicating means for a game apparatus according to claim 2, includingmanually adjustablemeans for reversing the direction of rotationv of thepulleys and thereby reversing the direction of m-ovement of the endlessbelt when the arm on the one pulley is engaged by the arm on the crossrod.

6. In a game apparatus, indicating means for cumulatively indicating thesuccessive drives imparted to a ball adapted to be projected toward ascreen, comprising a movably supported rodlike member having a screenconnected to one end thereof, said rod-like member being longitudinallymovable in response to impacts of the ball with said screen, a cross rodconnected transversely of the rod-like member to the other end of thelatter member, means actuated by the rodlike member during longitudinalmovement of the same and effective to cause rotation of said cross rod,a pair of endless belts spaced apart in general parallelism, each belthaving an indicator and being mounted on a pair of pulleys, and meansfor selectively connecting said cross rod and either one of said pair ofbelts at will, to move the selected belt by rotation of the cross rodcaused by longitudinal movement of the rod-like member as a result ofimpact of the ball with the screen.

'7. In a game apparatus, indicating means for cumulatively indicatingthe successive drives imparted to a ball adapted to be projected towarda screen, comprising a movably supported rodlike member having a screensecured to one end thereof, said rod-like member being longitudinallymovable in response to impacts of the ball with said screen, an endlessbelt having an indicator movable therewith, intermittent actuating meansconnecting said rod-like member and said belt in order to moveintermittently the belt and thereby also the indicator by successivestages in response to successive impacts of the ball with the screen.

8. In a game apparatus, indicating means for cumulatively indicating thesuccessive drives imparted to a ball adapted to be projected toward ascreen, comprising a movably supported rodlike member having a screensecured to one end thereof, said rod-like member being longitudinallymovable in response to impacts of the ball with said screen, a pair ofendless belts spaced apart in general parallelism and each having anindicator movable therewith, intermittent actuating means for connectingsaid rod-like member with either one of said pulleys at will in order tocause movement of the selected belt intermittently by successive stagesin response to successive impacts of the ball with the screen.

9. In a game apparatus, indicating means for indicating cumulatively orsubtractively at will the successive drives imparted to a ball adaptedto be projected toward a screen, comprising a movably supported rod-likemember having a screen connected to one end thereof, said rod-likemember being longitudinally movable in response to impacts of the ballwith said screen, an endless b-elt mounted on a pair of pulleys andhaving an indicator movable therewith, intermittent actuating meansconnecting said rod-like member and said belt in order to moveintermittently the belt and thereby also the indicator by successivestages in response to successive impacts of the ball with the screen,and means for reversing the direction of movement of the belt.

10. In a game apparatus, indicating means for indicating cumulatively orsubtractively at Will the successive drives imparted to a ball adaptedto be projected toward a screen, comprising a movably supported rod-likemember having a screen connected to one end thereof, said rod-likemember being longitudinally movable in response to impacts of the ballwith said screen, a pair of endless belts spaced apart in generalparallelism and each having an indicator movable therewith, selectiveintermittent actuating means for connecting said rod-like member Witheither one of said belts at Will in order to cause movement of theselected belt intermittently by successive stages in response tosuccessive impacts of the ball with the screen, and means for reversingthe direction of movement of the selected belt.

ARTHUR PERCIVAL MASTERS.

